NASA STEM Stars: Deputy Director - Heliophysics Science Division

TL;DR

Dr. Antti Pulkkinen shares his journey from Finland to becoming a Heliophysics scientist and Acting Director at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Transcript

stem fans are you ready let's hear it for the world-class nasa stem stars team from nasa centers across the country we present auntie hooking in [Applause] hello welcome to our 35th edition of nasa stem stars webinar i am your host lynn dotson an education specialist at kennedy space center and joining us today is dr auntie pulkinan a heliophysics ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😎 Heliophysics scientists study the sun's behavior and its interactions with other planetary environments.
• 👾 Optical communications are becoming the future of deep space communications.
• 👨‍🔬 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is the largest NASA science center and offers opportunities for research from concept to publication.
• 🤩 Internship programs are a key pipeline for bringing in new talent and ideas to NASA.
• 😫 Dr. Pulkkinen's mentors emphasized the importance of math and physics as well as setting long-term goals in research careers.
• ♻️ NASA centers collaborate and learn from each other, creating a diverse and innovative environment.
• 💦 It is possible for individuals from anywhere in the world to work at NASA, but internships and collaborations are crucial for entry.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does a heliophysics scientist do at NASA?

Heliophysics scientists study the behavior of the sun and its interactions with different planetary environments. They aim to expand our understanding of the universe and publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications.

Q: How does NASA secure the transfer of data from space back to Earth?

NASA is transitioning from radio frequency communication systems to optical communications, which provide high-bandwidth connections from space. One mission, the SETH mission, is focused on demonstrating the use of optical communications.

Q: What is work-life like at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center?

Working at Goddard offers the opportunity to conduct research from start to finish, from generating ideas to building instruments and analyzing data. It is a diverse and exciting environment for scientists.

Q: When did Dr. Pulkkinen know he wanted to work at NASA?

After completing his post-doctoral research at NASA Goddard, Dr. Pulkkinen realized the opportunities that working at a large science center like Goddard offers. This led him to pursue a career at NASA.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Antti Pulkkinen introduces himself as a research scientist and father, with a passion for heliophysics.

• He talks about his background, including his education in physics and math in Finland and his post-doctoral research at NASA Goddard.

• Dr. Pulkkinen highlights the importance of internships and collaborations in bringing new talent and ideas to NASA.